Philadelphia, PA
- The Philadelphia Eagles proved to be just average in 2021. They had no problem defeating inferior competition but were 1-7 against teams with winning records – including their 31-15 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card Round.
The Philadelphia Eagles 2021 Season
Philly came out incredibly flat and uninspired, falling behind 31-0, with neither the offense nor the defense able to create momentum. The Buc's defense clamped the Eagles’ rushing game, forcing quarterback Jalen Hurts to throw all day. The results were not pretty. Inaccurate passes missed opportunities and poor decisions cost the Birds opportunities to keep the game close.
Meanwhile, the defense simply saw the field too often. The team appeared exhausted as the game pressed on, hampered by an offense that couldn’t sustain drives.
A wild card exit is demoralizing, but a 9-8 regular season is a resounding success for a first-year head coach and a young roster. Now the Eagles head into the offseason, which looks very promising.
Philly did a good job of resigning key players during the regular season, as players like Dallas Goedert and Avonte Maddox will return to the team. There are a few decisions yet to be made, mostly on the defensive side. General Manager Howie Roseman will have to choose if he wants to keep safety Rodney McLeod, linebacker Alex Singleton, defensive end Derek Barnett and cornerback Steven Nelson. Offensively, running backs Jordan Howard and Boston Scott are also free agents.
Looking to the 2022 NFL Draft, the Eagles have a chance to majorly improve. They boast three first-round picks: 15th, 16th, and 19th overall. These selections allow Philly to address several key needs in the draft, rather than having to prioritize one over the other. I’d expect them to look for an inside linebacker, safety, wide receiver, or defensive end with these picks.
The biggest question mark for this team, and one that could influence the entire offseason, is the future at quarterback. Eagles brass has committed to Hurts, but it’s easy to imagine that he will be on a short leash, especially after his playoff debut. I think the Eagles are wise to stick with Hurts, but I wonder how long they will, especially if the 2022 season starts poorly.
Overall, Philadelphia fans have a lot to be excited about with this team. A promising young roster and three first-round picks allow the Eagles to construct a talented roster of players that really fit into Nick Sirianni’s scheme. The road back to the playoffs starts now.
Sam Woloson
Sports Writer
PhillyBite sports contributor and Philadelphia Eagles Writer.
Follow Sam on Twitter @WolosonSam and Instagram: @Sam_Woloson
